After Giorgio Chiellini, Italy's most experienced defender, Brazilian-born midfielder Thiago Motta, who has started
all three games, is injured, suffering a hamstring strain that makes him doubtful for Sunday's European Championship quarterfinal against England.

Azzurri team doctor Enrico Castellacci said Motta, who has played as Italy's most advanced midfielder, was able to train but his fitness needs to be assessed.

Chiellini, who
has a thigh injury, won't be available for the England match. Mario Balotelli should be ready to face England despite suffering a slight back problem in
training.

Ah...so we're already building the narrative so that it will seem credible that England top Italy on Sunday? After all, isn't this what this tournament needs? So far it has been little splash, little news, little much of anything. But...England again making it to a major tournament semifinal....now that will command some attention. That will make some headlines. Money, too. Much better money. England has not reached a semifinal since Turin in 1990 -- against the Germans. So that is just what it will be: Portugal-Spain and Germany-England.